Graduation

Contact Registrar at registrar@hccc.edu for questions about your graduation application, course completion towards earning your degree, diplomas, and related topics.

Contact Student Life & Leadership at graduationevents@hccc.edu for questions related to the Commencement ceremony, graduate portraits, graduation celebration events and related topics.

Contact the HCCC Bookstore for questions about caps and gowns. Visit the Journal Square Campus Bookstore at 162 Sip Avenue to pick up your cap and gown.

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Hudson County Community College's 45th Commencement Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 12:00 p.m. noon at the Red Bull Arena located at 600 Cape May St., Harrison, NJ 07029.

Graduating Class Recognition

This ceremony will recognize the graduating classes of the Summer II 2019 through Summer II 2022.

We are inviting all graduating students who were unable to have an in-person Commencement Ceremony due to the pandemic to celebrate your accomplishment in this meaningful ceremony and celebration.

Arrival Times and Entrances

Doors will open for graduates and guests at 10:30 a.m. All graduates must arrive by 11:30 a.m. The Commencement Ceremony begins promptly at 12:00 p.m.

Graduates will enter through the Horizon Gate (Gate B). Graduates will need to have their cap and gowns to enter the area. Guests will enter through Gate C.

RSVP and Name Pronunciation with MarchingOrder

The RSVP form at the HCCC MarchingOrder website has closed. This form allowed us to collect your correct name pronunciation. All names are now being recorded.

Did you miss the RSVP deadline date? No problem! Your name will still be read as you cross the stage. We can’t wait to celebrate you with your loved ones on May 26!

Make sure you have your cap and gown, which can be picked up from the JSQ Bookstore during Business Hours, which you can find here: https://www.bkstr.com/hudsoncountyccstore/store-hours.

If you and/or your guests need any special accommodations, please email us at graduationevents@hccc.edu so that we can best support. 

If you have any other questions, email us at graduationevents@hccc.edu!

Academic Procession and Recession

The graduating class participating in this ceremony will be expected to participate in a processional and a recessional.

The procession is the traditional ceremony march at the beginning of the ceremony, where graduates are led by faculty and college dignitaries. The procession will begin at the mid-field point and involves walking to the seats at the end of the field.

The recession occurs at the end of the ceremony, where faculty and college dignitaries lead the graduates from their seats off the field, marking the end of the ceremony.  The recession will return to the mid-field point.

Recommended Footwear and Additional Ceremony Notes

Graduates will enter the arena and mid-field and walk to the end of the arena to their seats. When your name is called, you will need to walk down the stairs to cross the stage, and then up the stairs to your seat. Therefore, we highly recommend that you wear comfortable footwear and avoid shoes with heels, low traction, or shoes that are uncomfortable for you to wear.

We also recommend that graduates do not bring any personal items with them to their seats, except for their cell phone and small purse/wallet. Graduates are not permitted to chew gum during the ceremony.

Keynote Speaker

The keynote address will be delivered by HCCC Alumnus Mr. Pedro Moranchel, Class of 2021 Valedictorian and current junior at Princeton University pursuing a bachelor's degree in Physics.

Running Time of Event

It is anticipated that this ceremony will run for about three hours. However, the length of time depends on the number of graduates participating in the ceremony.

Live Streaming

The Commencement Ceremony will be live-streamed on the college's YouTube channel and website. We will share more information as the ceremony date approaches.

Reception

HCCC will be sponsoring a complimentary reception following the ceremony and recessional of the graduates. The reception will be an exceptional opportunity to celebrate with graduates, families, loved ones, faculty, and staff.

Vaccination and Mask Information

There are no vaccination or masks requirements to attend the Commencement Ceremony.

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Number of Guests

Graduates are allowed to invite an unlimited number of guests! We want this special day to be celebrated by all who love and support our graduates.

Guest Tickets

For safety and guest tracking purposes, the HCCC Commencement Ceremony at the Red Bull Arena will require mobile tickets of all attendees.

TICKETS ARE STILL UNLIMITED AND FREE, AND GUESTS WILL STILL BE SEATED IN A GENERAL ADMISSION. TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY.

Click below to obtain your tickets:

Graduating Student Tickets   Guest Tickets

Important Notes:

• Please choose any available section when selecting your tickets. Seating will occur on a first-come, first-seated method regardless of the section that you choose. 
• To complete your ticket order, you will need to log into your Ticketmaster account or create one.
• Once completed, your mobile tickets will be emailed to you and accessible through your Ticketmaster account.
• Tickets are required for entry.

Accessible Seating

Accessible seating is available for guests in various sections at Red Bull Arena. There will be ushers and staff on hand to assist guests to these seats.

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Driving
The Red Bull Arena is located at Red Bull Arena, 600 Cape May St, Harrison, NJ 07029.

PATH
Red Bull Arena is about three blocks from the Harrison PATH train station, one stop away from Journal Square.

Parking
Free parking will be available in the parking lots adjacent to the Red Bull Arena located on Guyon Drive and S 5th Street! Spots are available on a first come, first serve basis. Additional free parking is available at the nearby Harrison Parking Garage, and HCCC shuttles will be provided to the Red Bull Arena.

The Harrison PATH station is within a 5-minute walk to the arena and has a commuter parking lot with metered parking options.

Red Bull Arena has designated parking for guests with disabilities on a first-come, first-served basis next to Gate B at Red Bull Arena. A current state-issued disability placard or license plate is required to utilize these spaces. There is also a drop-off area at the Arena on Pete Higgins Blvd for guests with disabilities.

ADA Drop Off
ADA Drop Off will be available by Red Bull's E Parking Lot, which is located at 699-697 Cape May Street, Harrison, NJ 07029. 

Uber/Lyft/All Drop Off
A Non-ADA Drop Off point is available on Pete Higgins Blvd at the Red Bull Arena.

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Red Bull Arena is equipped with accessible parking, seating, closed captioning, and other supports. More information at https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/redbullarena/ada.

Accessible seating is available in various sections at Red Bull Arena, offering wheelchair and companion seating on all levels. There will be ushers and staff on hand to assist guests to these seats.

There will be a sign language interpreter at the ceremony in addition to closed captioning.

If you are a graduate or if your guest needs accommodations, it is important that you notate the need on the ceremony RSVP form at https://hccc.marchingorder.com/.

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If you are still in need of a cap and gown, you can pick up your cap and gown set at the Journal Square Bookstore (162 Sip Ave., Jersey City) during business hours, which you can find at  https://www.bkstr.com/hudsoncountyccstore/store-hours. In order to collect your free cap and gown set, you will need to show the Bookstore associate emails you have received from graduationevents@hccc.edu with information on your cap and gown. Please be prepared with your height when picking up your cap and gown.

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There are multiple events planned for our graduates, including Grad BBQs at the Journal Square and the North Hudson Campuses, a Commencement Formal held at The Hudson House, and more!

Additionally, there will be virtual Q&A (Question and Answer) sessions as we get closer to the Commencement Ceremony.

Events will be promoted to your HCCC email.

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If you have NOT filled out and submitted your Graduation Application, please do so as soon as possible. The deadline has passed, which may impact your ability to be listed in the Commencement Program and to confirm the pronunciation of your name to be read out loud during the Commencement Ceremony.

It is required that you submit the free Graduation Application. This document collects the name that you wish to be displayed on your diploma and confirms your degree program. Please indicate in the box of the graduation application how you would like your name to appear on the diploma. This is the same way it will appear in the Commencement program.

If you are unsure if you have submitted your Graduation Application, or for any questions related to this Graduation Application, please email Assistant Registrar Upasana Sethi-Pagan at usethi-pagan@hccc.edu.

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Click here for the Spring 2022 and Summer 2022 Graduates Applicant List. Please note that this list is only accessible to individuals with HCCC login credentials. For any questions regarding the list, please email registrar@hccc.edu.

Please note, in order to complete your degree and graduate from HCCC, you must pass all degree course requirements. Being a Graduate Applicant and participating in a graduation ceremony DOES NOT automatically mean that you have completed your degree and graduated from the college.

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Click here for the Fall 2021 Graduate Candidate List. This list of students have completed their degree requirements as per the Registrar's Office. Please note that this list is only accessible to individuals with HCCC login credentials. For any questions regarding the list, please email registrar@hccc.edu.

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Spring and Summer 2022 Graduates:
Once all final grades have been submitted and your degrees have been confirmed, Registrar will email you with the status of your diploma. Please note that you must return any borrowed technology (such as a Chromebook or Hot Spot) before you can receive your diploma.

Fall 2021 Graduates and all prior years:
Your diplomas are available for pick up at the Journal Square Campus A Building, 70 Sip Avenue, Jersey City. Please bring your State ID. Note that you must return any borrowed technology (such as a Chromebook or Hot Spot) before you can receive your diploma. You can pick it up or request to have it mailed. Diplomas that are mailed may take a minimum of 2-3 weeks to arrive.

For any other questions or concerns about your diploma, email registrar@hccc.edu.

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Learn about HCCC’s Alumni Services at https://www.hccc.edu/community/alumni-services/index.html

Join the Alumni Association: https://www.hccc.edu/community/alumni-services/alumni-update-form.html

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Students are allowed and encouraged to wear as many cords and stoles with their cap and gown as they have earned. Different cords and stoles distributed by the college are:

• Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) – Inductees of PTK receive a gold stole with the PTK logo and a gold tassel.
• National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) – Inductees of NSLS receive a black and silver cord.
• Sigma Kappa Delta (SKD) – Inductees of SKD receive a black and gold cord
• Lavender Graduation – Students recognized as part of the Lavender Graduation ceremony receive a rainbow cord
• Kente Graduation – Students recognized as part of the Kente Graduation receive a Kente cloth stole handcrafted from Ghana

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The Office of Student Life and Leadership will be scheduling opportunities for Graduate Portraits. Information regarding dates will be sent to you from graduationevents@hccc.edu.

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Herff Jones is offering HCCC coupon codes for class rings! To order your college ring please log on to: https://collegerings.herffjones.com/

PROMO CODES:

• $100 OFF Austria and Extreme Silver: ENTER CODE: HJRING100
• $125 OFF White Ultrium Ring: ENTER CODE: HJRING125
• $300 OFF 10K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJRING300
• $400 OFF 14K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJRING400
• $500 OFF 18K Gold Ring: ENTER CODE: HJRING500

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Hudson County Community College’s Communications Department needs your help in identifying unique and exceptional graduate student stories to use in publicity for the upcoming Commencement ceremony as well as future marketing materials.

HCCC’s Communications Department will be pitching these stories to media during the Commencement season and would be pleased to hear from students willing to be interviewed. Some past noteworthy stories covered by media included students who:

• Were age 50 or older while studying at HCCC
  
• Had served in the military
  
• Had relatives on HCCC staff or of HCCC alumni
  
• Were family members graduating together
  
• “Beat the odds” (earned a degree despite an obstacle, disability, etc.)

For more information please contact the Communications Department at 201.360.4060 or email at communications@hccc.edu or visit the Tell Us Your Story page.

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Watch the December 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony, Click Here

Summer II 2019-December 2020 Graduates, to download your Virtual Commencement slide, or Click Here

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Watch the May 2021 Virtual Commencement Ceremony: https://youtu.be/yiQft_ekRio.

Graduates, to download your Virtual Commencement slide, or Click Here

Access the May 2021 Commencement Program,  Click Here

For the May 2021 Grad Walk photos, Click Here

To watch the May 2021 Grad Walks livestreams visit https://www.facebook.com/hcccedu/videos/

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To watch the December Graduate Receptions, visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/HudsonCountyCollege

To view photos from the December Graduate Receptions, visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hudsonccc/albums/

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